After winning the fourth Challenger Series (CS) event in Portugal, Tahitian surfer Kauli Vaast jumped 11 spots in the rankings to claim the top position for 2026 Championship Tour (CT) qualification. Vaast defeated Australia’s George Pitter in the final, asserting himself as a frontrunner for the upcoming tour.
With four of seven CS events completed, Vaast will need strong performances in Brazil, Pipeline, and Newcastle to maintain his lead. The qualification counts five of seven results toward the final point total, which could work in his favor given he has two clunker results this year. Despite placing 33rd at Ballito and the U.S. Open, his victories at Ericeira and second-place finish at Newcastle have placed him in the pole position.
He may not need an outstanding result to qualify, though. In 2024, 14,430 points were enough for a top 10 finish – based on the top four of six events. Vaast already has 19,200 points, so one more solid showing could cement his qualification.
Vaast is renowned for his skill in heavy left barrels, a strength that will serve him well at the sixth CS event at Pipeline. He has also already posted a solid result at Newcastle, which will appear on the schedule again to close out the Challenger Series tour.
His CT qualification has seemed inevitable in recent years. He held his ground at his home break to win gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics in Tahiti. He has also consistently performed at his Teahupo’o wildcard appearances, finishing second in 2022 and fifth in 2025. His 2025 wildcard entry into the Surf Abu Dhabi wave pool event marked his only CT experience outside Tahiti, where he finished 17th.
Vaast is focused on the task at hand, set on being the first male Tahitian on tour since Michel Bourez retired in 2021.
“So happy!” Vaast said of his win in Portugal. “Let’s keep pushing!”
Next, Vaast heads to Brazil, a stop that has historically been challenging for him. Last year he finished 25th, and in 2023 he placed 49th. He’ll need to refine his performance on the shifty Brazilian beachbreaks to secure his tour spot and thrive there once on the CT.
Surf fans should be rooting for Vaast’s qualification, joining a wave of young surfers like Alan Cleland, Cole Houshmand, Barron Mamiya, and Marco Mignot, who are injecting fresh talent into the tour.